Cognitive Design Systems (CDS) is a software company enabling designers and engineers to automate and accelerate their design process using AI. Their software converts concept designs into manufacturable, sustainable and economically viable products using machine learning algorithms.
The company serves diverse client segments from the aerospace, defence, automotive and medical industries based in Japan, Europe and the US. Their software is developed internally, in order to provide automated solutions and make the design to manufacturing process as efficient as possible.
CDS covers various manufacturing applications, from additive to conventional methods.
Interview with Ung Vincent, COO & Co-Founder at Cognitive Design Systems (CDS).
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Ung Vincent: CDS’s main areas of activity are the manufacturing optimization via the creation of software, custom application or design services.
We cover different manufacturing methods, additive, injection, die-casting, milling… for all industries, as our main positioning is to help our clients to go from a 3D design to a real physical part.
We specialized in 3D modeling and develop machine learning tools and sets of algorithms for various needs in design for manufacturing.
E.E: What’s the news about new products?
U.V: We are working on different front, on the additive side (Cognitive Additive), we are adding 3 new technologies SLS, SLM and Binder Jetting.
On the molding side, we are releasing a new design tool for casting and injection applications that will help engineers to create moldable part and corresponding molds in matters of few minutes.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
U.V: Our products are mostly software solutions. We provide license of CDS’s products (Cognitive Additive, Molding, Machining) and offer custom application development for specific client needs.
We also provide engineering services, for design, co design project and manufacturing analysis study.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
U.V: Currently CDS is pretty active on the additive market, where our strong expertise is recognized by many. Our solutions help to assist engineering in integrating manufacturing constraint and DfAM rules. It also allows more people to adopt the AM technology and understand the most suitable processes, machines and materials specific to their use case.
We are growing our business with respect to the conventional manufacturing, especially on the injection and molding applications. CDS is looking to provides innovations and automated software for this well-established market.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
U.V: The additive market is often under the spotlight due to the novelty of the method used and the advantage it can bring; The frequent innovations and progress made in all directions (material, machine, process) help to boost the notoriety of this sector. However, it is still a niche, AM is suited for industry with high demands in terms of customization (medical) or for sectors with relatively low part volumes and geometrical complexity (space sector).
I personally believe that this trend will probably suffer from the lack of demand from mass production and industrial application. Especially if we consider the number of machine makers on the additive side. We can perhaps expect some consolidation in the market pulled by the most active manufacturer.
E.E: What estimations do you have for the rest of 2022?
U.V: We have built robust 3D modeling algorithms applied for features recognition and design modification. In 2023, we aim to release a new version of our Cognitive Additive solution to automatically redesign part for AM, and offer design alternative for various needs, cost, manufacturability, performance, while ensuring their production and reducing print failures.